San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-02-09
on before dark > vas JuIict's parting Iniuno-

ton.
Kitty, glad 10 BE- ont nf the house, hurried
along through the softly-ialling snow. She
was obliged 10 wait for the dress, and Il was
nearly dusk when she tartedt tn return with
the huge, awkwardly-S box In her arms.
With her head slightly bent to escape the
force Of the wind, and mind absorbed In Bit
ter reflections, she had not gouo f,ir before
she plunged, box and all, headlong into the
arms Of a man going the other way. He put
her ON her feet and picked up her box
Dizzy, and half-blinded by the whirling
snow, she murnured a word of thanks, and
held out her hands for the box without look
ing up. But instead of handing over her
property one of her little red-mittened hands
was drawn under his arm, and he was adj
yisng her to put the other In her ulster
pocket. She knew then, without looking
that II was Lester GTahame who was striy-
ing 10 shorten his long strides TO keep pace
with her.
There are a few decided objections, Miss
Cole, 10 your plan Of converting the human
race into tenpins but ont Of pity for your
feelings | refrain from enlaTgng on the sub
ject. Now will keep still long enough for
you 10 express your delight at meeting me-"
She remains silent.
"What weren't you glad to see mer'
No response.
They have the deserted, darkening street
to themselves. The only sounds in the still
air are the tinkling of passing sleigh-bells
and the crunchng of the snow under their
feet.
do you wish had been some ether fell
low, Kitty?'
They are turning the corner, and the Cole
mansion will soon come in view. BY some
la l,I
an extent enabling strong, firm hand to
grasp closely the red mitten nesting under
the other arm.
MOO" says Kitty at last 81 suppose
IL might as well he yOu rs anybody. ] will
take the box now. Please 10 not insist on
coming any farther"
~ will not, indeed, if you do not wish it.
Kitty, has any one been putting ideas in
your curly head about? But no matter
Why are you so afraid Juliet or your step
mother will see us together? Or Is it you
who dislike me?" lie Is facing her, speak
ing impeuously enough.
II thought" said Kitty, hestating little,
as If her explanation might embrace too lit
tie or too much-'l though you were
Juliet'S lover"
''Then you were mistaken. There is only
one little girl in the world for me, and her
name is-nOt Juliet"
He spoke i'm such matter of fact tone
that Ktty's heart, which had Just given a
great thrOb sank at once. There are names
and names, and Kitty is only one.
IL would have sent q card fOryOu with the
Others but i knew what the consequences
would be. You would not be allowed to
come, and they might easily make it I'M
pleasant for you. | hope you will agree TO
my plan. My heart is set on my bali being
your first. l will send our carriage for you
at TO- late enough for the coast to be clear,
and will send some flowers by the coach
man. Carry them in your hand and shall
recognize you. Oh the clOUk-rOOm is a
small side-room, and will meet you there.
The rest will he all plain sailing and re-
member, you are Ia y IltZ with no one but
me-"
1t seemed TO the little, brOwn-eyed hand
maiden as if Juliet would never be pleased,
as she dressed her for the Grahame ball.
Juliet was to be Mary Queen of Scots.
There was either too much white or not
enough red on her face. Her hair was taken
down and put up until Kttty's arms ached.
The white lace in her Dire s did not suit her;
it must be ripped out and cream cOlOred
sewed in instead. All this Kitty did uncOm-
plainingly. "HOw would you like to stand
in my shoes tO-night?' asked Juliet, so sud
denly that Kitty let the scissors fall to the
floor at must be delightful 10 go to
ball, sighed Kitty, feeling like miserable
little hypOcrite. Couldn't you possibly take
me, Juliet?'
A scOrnful laugh answered her. "What
would you do at ball? Nobody would
dance with you, and. you never know any
thing to say that would interest men. You
would disgrace the family. If you had
dress like this, or could carry yourself So"
Juliet spread her gorgeous train and swept
once or twice across the room. Her prone
nading was cut short by the appearance of
Mrs. Cole, who was going as Duchess, in
black velvet and diamonds, who announced
that William was waiting with the carriage.
As soon as the door had closed Kitty, with
eyes like diamonds and checks like roses,
locked herself in her own little room. 1t
was not long before her simple toilet was
completed, and no one would have dreamed
the old muslin would have come out so fresh
and white. Johnny had been taken into her
confidence, and now that his eyeballs had
got back into their sockets sat outside with
his hands in his pockets, ready to give the
signal for Kitty to appear. Hank! A long,
shTill whistle. With her cloak around her
she stole down the stairs her heart in her
mouth at every creak, though she knew
Charlotte was in bed There at the curb
stood the carriage, and the fOOtman opened
the door and handed her a small box with a
bow low enough for a Princess.
What a lark" said Johnny. That top
knot of yours is tremendous. Keep up your
spirits, Kitty. I'll bet on you every time.
And if you see such thing as peanut
there, bring it home with you"
In the box Kitty found the flowers she
was to carry, a handful Of tca-roScS laid UNI
demcath a white satin mask. This she put
on as the carriage rolled up in front of the
stately steps, and with a little sigh and
SILVER of mingled delight and fear she fol-
lowed the fOOtman into the hall and slipped
into the ClOak-TOOm he pointed out.
The strains Of music and the sound of
many lightly-tripping feet came to her ears
as she Invested herself of her cloak and
shook ont her dress before the picr-glaSs.
"a cat in a strange garrett is a poor COM
paTisOn for this little Kitty as she stood
alone, half-frightenr,l, i'm the dimly-ighted
room. She could catch now and then a
glimpse of Juliet'S red velvet train sweep
ing through a quadrile. Should she ever
muster courage enough TO open the door
leading to the little side room! The Tustling
of a dress hear :he clOak-rOOm door decided
her, and in a tlice she was in the next room.
1t was a warm, iOwcT-SCented retreat, and
Kitty stood i'm the middle of il smelling her
roses when her host, rGSpendent in velvet
coat silk stock urS diamond shoe hucklpS